Matchroom Sport Signs Middleweight John Ryder

Unbeaten Middleweight John Ryder has signed a two-year promotional deal with Matchroom Sport.

The 23 year-old from Islington impressed fans and pundits alike with his clinical second round stoppage win over Luke Osman at York Hall in Bethnal Green on November 9 on Sky Sports.

Eddie Hearn moved quickly to secure Ryder’s signature after he moved to 7-0 with the Osman win, and Ryder is delighted to have joined up with Matchroom’s burgeoning stable.

“Signing with Eddie is just fantastic, I'm really living the dream at the moment,” said Ryder. “When I wake up I really want to go out for a run and get into the gym and it’s a great plus in any job when you actually want to go in and work and I think we all feel that.”

Ryder has just completed his first year as a pro after an amateur career that saw him notch 30 wins from 35 fights and two ABA National Senior Novice titles. Although he is keen to add his first professional honours to that list, Ryder is prepared to be patient and take the advice of the experienced team he has around him.

“Hopefully I can break into the top ten next year and look at the Southern Area title and edge towards an English title shot,” said Ryder. “But I'm not going to run before I can walk, I've got good people around in my trainer Colin Lake and Tony Sims and they know the right way to handle me so I'm just going to keep improving and learning, so maybe in the next 12 to 18 months I could reach that level.”

“It’s great to have John on our books – I’m very excited by what I have seen from him so far,” said Hearn, who confirmed Ryder would be boxing on December 3, before returning to York Hall on January 28. “His attitude is spot-on and he’s very level headed – he can go a very long way in the sport and he’s got a great team around him to make that happen.”